The Inspectorate

Thursday was a big day for three members of the English Department. They had applied to the county for certification to move up a step. This means an increase in status and an increase in pay. Teachers must build a portfolio of lessons, be observed three times during the course of a year or two, and pass a written test. This past Thursday was the first of the three observations.

Observations are always nerve-wracking even when you know what you are doing. There is something about the idea that someone is coming to watch what you are doing to make sure that you are doing all the right things, that you make no mistakes, and that you keep everyone on track. Here the Inspectorate comes to inspect two classes in a single day. Because of scheduling issues, she would be here for one teacher from 11 to 12 and 12 to 1, then the second teacher from 1 to 2 and 2 to 3. The third teacher had to require her classes to return to school from 3 to 4 and 4 to 5. I can't imagine asking our students to return for an inspection after school had let out, and yet they did return and did behave for her.

The teachers who are being observed bring a feast for the inspectorate and the rest of the department. The entire department meets in the department room to support the three teachers for the entire day when they are not teaching. The camaraderie is grand. As the day winds down, the stories get more and more interesting as we all get to know each other a bit better. The inspector comes in after each hour with a wad of hand-written pages which she lays on the table. She discusses the process and how encumbered the system is. She is really a very nice lady who has somehow gained this position which she doesn't really seem to want. She is young and overworked. Mara talks about how cumbersome the system has become. She says that her experience at Alexandru cel Bun school has far outweighed her expectations. I am not sure what she thought she would find, but she is very pleased with what she has found.

The students from all six classes have brought beautiful bouquets of roses for her. The workroom is soon overflowing with flowers. She brings back armfuls after each class. Flowers are an inherent part of Europe. They are given as gifts for many occasions. The first day of school, visitors, because they are pretty…

Soon the bell rings and it is time for the next class. She waves the teacher whose turn it is to sit down and wait for the proper amount of time. It is customary for students to rise and say "Good Morning, Teacher," when their teacher arrives to teach. The teacher greets them and cues them to sit down. When it is their turn to answer, the student rises to answer the question. It is a terribly old-fashioned, quaint mode of teaching. I can just imagine what my students in America would say if I asked them to do this.

Finally, they go to the appointed class and those who are left behind, must transcribe the Inspector's notes into prose into another big book to be saved forever. There can be no mistakes. At one point the teacher writing skipped a page and it was a twenty minute discussion about what to do. Apparently, it would appear as is something had gone awry. It would be improper and could look bad for someone. Should they tear out the page? The pages are numbered and so it would be obvious that something had happened no matter what they did. Finally, it was determined that they would add an introductory page to the section. This hand transcription required two people, one to read and the other to write. It should be neat and in straight lines. It is unlined paper and so that is a trick. Imagine how much quicker this is for us with a laptop. We take notes, make it into sentences, edit it, and print. All done in about ten minutes max. Then everyone has to sign the document and the original notes must all be signed and sent back to Suceava with the Inspector.

This happens six times before they are finally through for the day. One last transcription and it is time to celebrate. The Director and Assistant Director appear and all the staff arrives and then the day is pronounced a success.